The great and powerful “Grapes” has spoken. So it’s time for everyone from Quebec and all the way west across the continent to calm down about the lack of a suspension for Zdeno Chara.

The Bruins’ defenseman did not receive any supplemental discipline for his hit Tuesday on Max Pacioretty, who hit face-first into the stanchion near the benches and suffered a fractured vertebrae and severe concussion. Tonight on Hockey Night in Canada’s “Coach’s Corner” segment, the esteemed Don Cherry presented his verdict on the matter.

“Here’s a guy, 6-foot-9, 260 pounds. For 13 years he’s never been suspended, he’s never tried to hurt guys,” said Cherry. “If he tried to hurt guys, he’d kill them at that size. There’s no way; you can’t give him [a suspension]. Well, why didn’t you give him three or four games? You can’t give him three or four games. It’s either you give him 20 games or you give him none. It can’t be a little bit.”

When pressed by co-host Ron McLean about the notion that at least a short suspension would make Chara think twice before delivering a “dangerous hit,” Cherry stuck to his guns on the matter.

“That’s ridiculous. A dangerous hit? He was just taking the guy out,” said Cherry. “That’s the same thing as if you take a shot and you hit a guy in the head. You shot the puck and you injured him, you’re a guilty party. Absolute nonsense. The league did it right this time. You either give him 20 games or you give him none.”

The segment also featured a montage of other “turnbuckle” hits that resulted in various amounts of injury to the players and rarely resulted in suspension. Cherry also showed his idea to have the stanchions rise up at an angle rather stand perpendicular to the boards.

As for Montreal owner Geoff Molson, who issued an open letter to the fans declaring his and his organization’s concern for player safety, Cherry had this to say.

“Your stanchions are turnbuckles. It’s a joke,” said Cherry. “Call all your players together in the dressing room and you say, ‘I want you to answer this honestly and don’t be afraid. How do you feel about playing 41 games with the seamless glass that ‘s this thick [less than an inch] and the boards in Montreal?’ Worst in the leagues for injuries. Ask them that.”

Well, when Don Cherry speaks, everyone listens. Maybe this will change the perspective of so many who are still up in arms and are even trying to get the authorities involved in a hockey matter.

Firstly, unsuspecting my ass. From the time Max poked the puck past Chara to the time his face made an imprint in the glass Chara had constant physical contact with him. Unsuspecting would be facing the opposite way with his fingers in his ears and his eyes closed.
Secondly, the “illegal” interference call is a judgement call by the referee. 5 years ago this would be a non call. In today’s NHL it is more of an obstruction offence (not always) called when the forward is trying to get around the defenceman. I see it time and time again, one referee calls it and another doesn’t.
Calling the play illegal is just trying to add a negative emphasis to your statement. Every penalty is an “illegal” offence from shooting the puck over the glass to too many men.
It is exactly 1 second from the time Max pokes the puck and Chara hits him. Chara was just finishing his check. A total hockey play.
Now add in the guy is almost a foot taller than the other player and is in the visiting arena skating backwards turning forwards while focused on the approaching player.
I doubt 10% of the people who post their condemnation for the sport have ever laced up a pair of skates in competitive play.
Although I feel sorry for the hurt player I am not losing any sleep over it. It is a pain in the ass having to discuss it over and over again with my Montreal loving friends. Or should I say “pain in the neck”.

Cherry’s not a good reference on safety issues. Take violence out of hockey and he would not have had much of a career. His opinion on anything about the Canadiens shouldn’t count for much since they crushed his aspirations year after year.
Dave in Jersey,
I don’t see why you’d call the guy an a-hole. Nobody knows what was in Chara’s mind at the time of the hit. I lean towards him meaning to do it, just not breaking the kids neck. Does my opinion count? No. So when people don’t agree with you, take it with a grain of salt and keep the discourse at a higher level.
Habs fans are being accused left and right of being overly emotional when their young player’s career and life has been threatened. From what I gather, you just disagree with the guy so why reduce this to name calling?
Peace the f- out:)

B seney, the hit was NOT illegal. The hit was perfectly clean. The penalty was for the TIMING of the hit. If the puck was closer, there would have been no penalty at all because he hit itself was clean.

As far as your silly “look at the slow motion” argument, well, life doesn’t happen in slow motion, does it? Now, that said, expand your research a little bit, educate yourself before spewing stupidity. Watch other hits along the boards when a defenseman is squeezing a player from getting by. What do they do? The shove them against the board, and push off of the other player o use the momentum to keep up his speed. Only this time, without the glass, instead if the player bouncing back and Chara using that to push off, the player’s momentum forced the top half of his body to lean over the railing. Chara’s hands are in the same position as any other squeeze. Perhaps if life was in slow motion, he would have had time to adjust, maybe grab a pillow hidden on the bench, fluff it a couple of times, and gently place it between Max’s face and the glass. But, again, life doesn’t happen in slow motion so it’s unfair for you to judge him based on what you watched in slow motion.

And if you believe that garbage about the owner and Bettman then perhaps you should watch Cherry’s video montage of similar hits with same punishment. You know, the stuff that is in the very article you are commenting about? But I guess you never bothered to read it, just saw the headline and went full steam with your diatribe.

Don, I listen to you relegiously, and respect most of what you say. BUT the one thing that is missing in this is the act the hit was illegal,(interference) against an unsuspecting player who does not have the puck, for starters. Section if you look at the hit, Chara’s forearm and glove were on Pacioretty’s head at the time of contact to the stantion. Regardless if he is the cleanest player in the league he has to be responsible for his actions. He new exactly where he was on the ice and he still drove Pacioetty’s head into the stantion. sorry but as a fan the player should have had a 10-20 game susupension, and the only reason he didn’t is the relationship of the Boston owner to Bettman, Campbell and league executive. IT WAS A HEAD SHOT THE SLOW MOTION PICTURES SHOW IT AS A HEAD SHOT AND NO SELFRESPECTING PERSON AND DENIGN IT AFTER LOOKING AT THE PHOTOS.

This is only one opinion among others ,I think he refuses to see the problem in more global way like the NFL has implemented for hits at head level .Let move on from the Charra Paccioretti incident and think about the hockey we want in the future.